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Nicolle lost 67 pounds

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Update 2016 – We featured Nicolle‘s weight release journey back in 2012 and she is still going strong. She lost 67 pounds, gained a few pounds back and now she’s working those off. Check out her update…

“I regained some weight and right now I’m working to lose the last 20 pounds that I regained. I am focusing on my eating habits, because you can’t outrun your fork. I have had a lot of support from a trainer who happens to be on Facebook. I believe that this time around I am going to take the slow and steady route rather than trying to get the weight off fast. Getting it off forever is much more important.”

nicolle before and after

Nov 2012 – Today’s weight loss success story: Nicolle lost 67 pounds by eating clean and exercising.

Nicolle weight loss

She said,
“I wanted to share my before and so far pictures with you. I started my weight loss journey at 244.4lbs.  In the first picture (with the tanktop) I was around 220lbs (5’9”).  I started my journey with weight watchers and am 8lbs away from my goal weight. 

I needed support and accountability so I purchased a three month pass to Weight Watchers. In the beginning I ate a lot of pre packaged meals and diet foods until I read the Eat Clean diet book by Tosca Reno. My diet now consists mainly of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and beans…and A LOT of water. I eat 4-5 small meals a day and track everything I eat in a food journal. I make sure to drink around 100 ounces of water per day.  As far as exercise is concerned, I started out walking and then joined a gym and did everything from the StairMill to spin classes. Now I mostly do weight training and speed walking. That has been important for me, only doing exercises that I enjoy and eating things that I like…I’m not going to stick with a program that I don’t like no matter how well it worked for someone else.

I am still a member of Weight Watchers and hope to lose the last 8lbs and meet my goal before the end of November (and before all of the holiday parties 🙂 Thank you for this page and all the support it offers!”

Christi lost 214 pounds with the Lap Band

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Check out Christi’s amazing transformation. She’s gone from 429 pounds to 215.

Christi before after photos

Here is her story:

“Hello Black Women Losing Weight. My name is Christi and I had lap band surgery February 2008. At my heaviest, I was 429 lbs with a BMI of over 55. It took me 2 1/2years to lose half of my body weight. I have been at 215 since April of 2010 and I have worked mighty hard to not go back to how I was before. For me, weight loss surgery was a last resort. I really tried to lose the weight on my own. Diet, exercise, doctors. At most, I lost 40 pounds and then hit a plateau. I was sooo frustrating doing everything the doctor and the health community told me to do with no results. So, after years of avoid the wls, even though my primary care doctor was constantly recommending it, I chose the lap band surgery against my doctor’s wishes. He stated that in his opinion, the lap band surgery did not work and that I would most likely have to have a revisional surgery once it didn’t take. Well, I proved him wrong. I lost the weight and have managed to keep it off going on three years. It was the best decision I ever made and I wish I hadn’t waited as long as I did to have the surgery. For anyone who is considering having one of the weight loss surgery, keep this in mind. 1. It is just a tool that you have to work in order for it to be successful. 2. Start by making small changes in your diet, from white to wheat bread, from whole milk to 2% milk, cut back on the amount of empty calories you are consuming i.e. sodas, candy, etc. For me, I had already made these changes prior to my surgery so the diet that was required was not that big of a jump. True enough, there are times when I miss being about to wrap a drumstick in a piece of white bread, but I don’t ever want to go back to the weight that I was. I am currently working with a trainer to get to a healthier weight due to the fact that according to the weight chart, I am still classified as being obese. Will never understand that chart. I never want to be bone skinny. I chose healthy and for me, healthy is around 190 to 200 lbs since I am 5’10”. I will never let the doctor tell me what looks best on my body. That’s my decision and no one else’s just like the decision on which wls to have.”

Nicole lost 80 pounds

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Today’s featured before and after:  Nicole lost 80 pounds!

I asked her what she did in terms of eating right and exercise.  She said, “I cut out greasy foods & had not so many sweets.  I increased the amounts of fruits & veggies I ate. As far as exercising, I did about 45 mins of cardio & 30 mins of toning 4-5 times a week! Pissed me off but I guess it worked!!! Lol”.  It sure did, sis.  Thank you for sharing your story with us!

Crystal lost 52 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: Crystal lost 52 pounds.

crystal's weight loss photos

She’s said,
“I’ve really made MAJOR lifestyle changes. I eat healthy and drink protein shakes. I drink at least 64 oz of water everyday and eat at least 60 grams of protein and no more than 120 complex carbs everyday. I utilize my fitness pal to keep up with my caloric intake. I ride a mile on my bike everyday . I also do Zumba 6 times a week . I have a long way to go but I’m so proud of my accomplishment. My goal weight is 140 so I still have a long journey ahead of me.

Five Things We Can Learn from Jennifer Hudson’s Weight Loss

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Jennifer Hudson has become one of the major faces of weight loss in the 21st century as she has kept off the weight in addition to losing it. What can women learn from her success?

photo: www.weightwatchers.com

Benefits of Weight Watchers
Hudson used the Weight Watchers program to achieve her weight loss, and have been inspired to follow in her footsteps. They are able to visually see the benefits of going through this specific program, and everyone, from a stay at home mother to a corporate executive, can incorporate these changes into their lifestyles.Overcoming Tragedy
Only just a few years ago, Hudson suffered an unimaginable loss when several members of her family were murdered. Despite this horrible tragedy in her life, she has been able to still overcome her personal struggles and reach incredible goals. Women can be inspired to start eating better or to exercise, even if they are having huge personal problems. They do not need to see these personal barriers as an end.

Empowering Women
It’s also important, in a day and age when women are still sometimes treated as inferior for men, for positive role models to inspire young girls. Teenagers can look up to Hudson as a source of inspiration and motivation to help them on their roads to becoming women. She wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she’s a regular girl who’s rise to fame was a combination of undeniable talent, luck, and hard work.  They will be able to see that they are able to reach all of their goals and dreams just as a man would.

Empowering Black Women
In addition to women in generally being made to feel inferior, racism is still unfortunately alive in some parts of the country. Many Black women feel that life is made more difficult for them, at least partially due to stereotypes and the like. Body image and self esteem are also affected by racism and American’s focus on a european standard of beauty.  When these women see Jennifer Hudson on their television screens or in advertisements, they are drawn into trying out the program as well.

Being a Better You
Jennifer Hudson is truly a likable actress, and many people enjoy watching her work. People might feel as though they can be just like Jennifer Hudson by going down the same route that she did.

Truly, Jennifer Hudson is a real inspiration for women who are fighting the battle of the bulge.

Actress Brely Evans has lost 40 pounds with Jenny Craig

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Today’s featured success story: Actress Brely Evans has lost 40 pounds with Jenny Craig and is their newest spokeswoman.  You may remember her in the remake of the movie “Sparkle” as “Tune Ann”.  You have likely seen her in the new Jenny Craig commercial (posted below).

She looks great and she’s part of the BWLW sisterhood on Facebook!  Here are some videos that chronicle her transformation.

Do black women have a problem with the concept of being “thin”?

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Do black women have a problem with the concept of being “thin”? I ask this question because of the reaction that always comes out when I post success stories where the before photo doesn’t show a woman who is “classically” overweight.

I understand that one woman’s before photo could be another woman’s after photo. For example, The 180 lbs that you want to decrease to 140 could be the goal weight of someone else who is 100 pounds heavier than you. I get that. What I’m trying to understand is the undertone of negativity that I hear when we comment on people who have “lost too much weight”. Can’t we just be positive and celebrate someone’s weight loss without finding fault?

I haven’t posted any photos of women who from a health standpoint are too skinny for good health. In fact, the traditional American standards of beauty may even say that many of the successful women I post are still quite heavy…but we don’t go by those standards for a number of reasons.

I’m rambling on. I’d just like to know your thoughts.

Gewanda lost 45 pounds

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Today’s weight loss success story: Gewanda lost 45 pounds.  She attributes her weight loss to “daily cardio, strength training combined with a low carb diet.”  I would add hard work and researching what would work for her.

Gewanda's weight loss journey

My weight loss journey was one of trial and error. I failed plenty of times but in the end, it was all worth it because I succeeded and still continue to do so once I got enlightened on health and weight loss.. After many failed attempts including starvation, reducing calories, fat burners, liquid diets and too many others to name, I finally decided “I” was ready to do this the right way. I researched and read every possible article i could find on weight loss and I then began my journey. I started with 30 minutes cardio on a treadmill everyday and I also followed a low carb diet which consisted of 50-70 carbs a day! As time went on, I began performing HIIT on the treadmill 3x weekly, Strength Training with High weight and low reps 4-5x wkly while still following a low carb diet and the pounds really began to shed. I no longer follow a strict low carb diet but I still excercise faithfully and eat healthy at least 70% of the time but I attribute my 45lb weight loss to daily cardio, strength training combined with a low carb diet.

Natasha lost 95 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss story: BWLW Online Community  member Natasha lost 95 pounds going from 225 to 130 lbs.  She was featured in the Huffington Post’s Healthy Living weight loss success profiles.   

Natasha's weight loss

In our online community we always ask what people’s weight loss goals are.  Natasha says, “I’m in maintenance mode now, after having lost 95 lbs. I strive to continue to exercise, eat right and to do right by my body, soul and spirit.”

One of the other BWLW community members asked her about her workouts and she said, “I haven’t focused on one particular area, but by working out (at least 3-4 days a week), I have managed to tone my body all over.”

From the Huffington Post article:

“Breaking Point: I was pregnant (and eventually miscarried) at the age of 21. I miscarried at five months, during my second trimester. I was 185 pounds when I first learned I was pregnant, and I gained a total of 40 pounds during that five-month period of time. Granted, I was never a small person to begin with, but I was tipping the scale at 225, and I knew something would have to give. There was never an explanation as to why I miscarried, but in my heart, I always knew that my weight gain was a factor…”

“How I Lost It: “…I began the Atkins’ Diet in August of 2003, and by the end of my first month, I’d already lost 20 pounds. I continued on, and by February of the following year, I was down to 160 pounds. I also signed up for a gym membership, and that helped me maintain my new-found weight loss for quite some time.

I went back to school in January of 2005 to begin working on my Master’s degree, and by the summer of 2006, I had regained 20 pounds. This time, I knew that I couldn’t go back to cutting carbs. I was going to have to learn how to eatcorrectly if I wanted to maintain long-lasting, lifetime weight loss. I joined Jenny Craig in October of 2007. The pitch at that time was, “Lose 20 pounds for $20, plus the cost of food.” Well, I was 175 when I entered the program, and by January of 2008, I rang in the new year at my lowest weight to date: 155 pounds…”  Click here for the full details of how she lost the weight.

 

April lost 70 pounds!

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Today’s amazing weight loss transformation: April lost 70 pounds with hard work and the help of Weight Watchers.

April's weight loss
“Last Year’s Birthday Pics! This Year’s Birthday Pics! 70 Pounds gone! YaY! Keep going Hard Ladies You can Do It!”

She says,
“I don’t call it a diet, because its a life style Change for me! I plan to Eat Right!!!. Workout!!! For the rest of my Journey! Once you get started you just keep going… At least that’s how I feel. Now I do have days where I eat something that I really really like & that’s maybe once a month! But all the foods I eat now are really good & healthy.You have to plan your meals..cook & prepare your foods..the right way! ; )

I started my weight loss journey back in March of this year! When I noticed that I couldn’t fit in my favorite pair of jeans!!! I had to do something fast… I had gotten to my biggest weight & size that scared the heck out of me! So My mom & I Started Weight Watchers & I Love it! No I didn’t starved myself. I love to cook and eat! But eating right! More fruits & veggies… Baked grilled fish,chicken,salmon.and tuna! I make just about every kind of salad there is.   I drink lots of freshly squeezed lemon water. Eating smaller portions and being more ACTIVE is what saved me! Oh and I do mean more active you have to get moving do some kind of exercise! I started Boot camp..going to the gym more, walking a lot! That really helps!!! Guess what?? I got back in them jeans & right back out of them! Because I had went down 4 dress sizes.  Going hard with a total of 40 pounds at that time!! Now I’m 70 pounds lighter! I’m so motivated! Thank you God! For everyone that is trying to lose weight! I say keep going hard at it! If I can you can too! ; ) My goal is to lose about 50 to 60 more pounds!!”